Iona’s point guard of the future will get a chance to help the Gaels in the present, too.

Tavon Sledge, a transfer from Iowa State, has been granted a waiver and will be able to play immediately.

"I commend my staff and our compliance administrators once again in their tireless effort and assistance in preparing the waiver for Tavon," Iona coach Tim Cluess said in a statement Thursday. "The NCAA is also thanked for their diligence in the decision making process to allow him to play."

Sledge, a 5-9 native of Spring Valley, N.Y., played in only eight games at Iowa State as a freshman. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

He is expected to challenge for playing time immediately at point guard -- a role held down last year by the nation’s top assist man, Scott Machado -- behind senior Momo Jones, the Arizona transfer who joined the Gaels last fall, and junior Sean Armand.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have been blessed to not only be able to play this year, but to be able to earn my degree a year earlier," Sledge said. "My family and I thank the NCAA, my coaching staff and Iona administrators for their help with the process."

Iona was a surprise entry into the field of 68 this season, and the Gaels ended their year in a first-round loss to BYU in which they gave up a 25-point lead for the largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history.